End of Google Cloud Developer Program Premium?

Google Cloud Compute Infrastructure
1

Just got an email that basically says the Google Developer Program is ending. Anyone else got it? The email is trying to sell it as a significant upgrade, but it seems to be a significant downgrade as the google cloud credits decrease to $10 a month rather than what was offered early and the google cloud certification voucher is no longer offered.

As a result I’m going to start looking at moving everything away from Google Cloud.

The email is below:

We are excited to announce a significant upgrade to how you access your Google Developer Program premium benefits.

We are consolidating all Google Developer Program premium benefits into the Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscriptions. This change brings the best of Google’s AI offerings across consumer and developer products together into a single, unified plan.

What this means for your premium benefits:

  • Keeping benefits you know and love: You will maintain access to Gemini CLI, Gemini Code Assist, Google Skills and 30 Firebase Studio Workspaces.

  • Changes to benefits:

    • Cloud Credits: You’ll now receive $10 in Cloud credits per month with a Google AI Pro or $100 in Cloud credits per month with an Ultra subscription.

  • Phasing out three benefits: With a focus on providing access to the most in demand AI models and tools, the following benefits will no longer be included:

    • Annual 1:1 tailored consultation with Google Cloud experts

    • 1 Google Cloud certification voucher each year

    • Unlimited access to Google Skills

How To Transition to Google AI Pro and Ultra:

Effective March 31, 2026, we will discontinue the standalone Google Developer Program premium annual plan. Moving forward, your benefits will be available through Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra subscriptions.

What this means for you:

  • If you wish to extend your annual access under your current plan, you must process your renewal before March 31, 2026. After this date, we will no longer accept renewals for the premium subscription.

  • To continue using your benefits long-term, you must transition to either a Google AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription.

A special offer to get you started

To ensure a smooth transition and allow you to explore the full, enhanced toolkit, we are offering you a complimentary one-year trial of Google AI Pro.

Access your 1 year trial of Google AI Pro here.

This upgraded plan includes:

  • Higher access to the latest models and features in the Gemini app.

  • AI creator tools and credits for Whisk and Flow.

  • Research and writing assistance with NotebookLM.

  • Higher limits to our asynchronous coding agent for software developers with Jules.

  • Continuous access to your existing Google Developer Program premium benefits (Gemini CLI, Code Assist and Firebase Studio).

  • And much more…

If you have any questions, please visit our FAQs or reach out to

gdp-premium-support@google.com.

Thank you for being a member of the Google Developer Program!

The Google Developer Program Team

2

I am in a similar situation. I would like to get an answer to this about the lost Google Cloud Credits.

3

We understand your concerns. We have made a decision to pivot our subscription product from a niche product to a mass-market bundle. We reviewed benefit consumption patterns and have decided to focus on scalable benefits. Your feedback regarding the certification vouchers is particularly noted; we understand how vital those are for professional growth, and we will share this with our certification team to explore how we can improve this over time.

3 Likes
4

I definitely won’t be switching to AI Pro once it comes up for renewal, as there are far too many products trying to sell AI subscriptions, and I already have it via Google Workspace which is actually cheaper than the AI Pro subscription. As well as Copilot through work.

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5

While understandable from a business point of view, does that mean that existing Premium subscribers will be stuck on Gemini 2.5 forever (or until it sunsets)

I’m a current annual subscriber and this is the first I’ve heard of the change.

6

I just finished the approval process at my school to purchase yearly access to the Google Developer Program premium but now that isn’t available.

AI Pro option is only monthly. I must get approval from my school for every purchase and it would be frustrating to get approval every month. I’d like an option to receive a single annual charge. Add the certification voucher as a bonus if you pre-pay for a year.